2,4-Dimethyl-6-tert-butylphenol is an alkylated phenol

Phenol

Phenol, also known as carbolic acid, phenic acid, is an organic compound with the chemical formula C6H5OH. It is a white crystalline solid. The molecule consists of a phenyl , bonded to a hydroxyl group. It is produced on a large scale as a precursor to many materials and useful compounds...

 used industrially as an antioxidant

Antioxidant

An antioxidant is a molecule capable of inhibiting the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that transfers electrons or hydrogen from a substance to an oxidizing agent. Oxidation reactions can produce free radicals. In turn, these radicals can start chain reactions. When...

, e.g. to prevent gumming in fuel

Fuel

Fuel is any material that stores energy that can later be extracted to perform mechanical work in a controlled manner. Most fuels used by humans undergo combustion, a redox reaction in which a combustible substance releases energy after it ignites and reacts with the oxygen in the air...

s, and as an ultraviolet stabilizer. It is used in jet fuel

Jet fuel

Jet fuel is a type of aviation fuel designed for use in aircraft powered by gas-turbine engines. It is clear to straw-colored in appearance. The most commonly used fuels for commercial aviation are Jet A and Jet A-1 which are produced to a standardized international specification...

s, gasoline

Gasoline

Gasoline , or petrol , is a toxic, translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines also contain...

s, and avgas

Avgas

Avgas is an aviation fuel used to power piston-engine aircraft. Avgas is distinguished from mogas , which is the everyday gasoline used in cars and some non-commercial light aircraft...

. It is a clear liquid with melting point 21-23 °C and boiling point 248-249 °C. It is also used in printing industry. It is stable in acidic, neutral, and alkaline solutions, and is considered to not be readily biodegradable. It does not absorb UV light, therefore direct photodegradation

Photodegradation

Photodegradation is degradation of a photodegradable molecule caused by the absorption of photons, particularly those wavelengths found in sunlight, such as infrared radiation, visible light, and ultraviolet light. However, other forms of electromagnetic radiation can cause photodegradation...

 is not suspected.

One of its trade names is Topanol A. It is found in antioxidant mixtures AO-30, AO-31, AO-32, IONOL K72, IONOL K78, IONOL K98, and others.

It is a suspected respiratory toxicant and is suspected to be neurotoxic.

See also

• 2,6-Di-tert-butylphenol
  2,6-Di-tert-butylphenol
  2,6-Di-tert-butylphenol is an organic compound with the structural formula 2,6-2C6H3OH. This colourless solid alkylated phenol and its derivatives are used industrially as UV stabilizer and an antioxidant for hydrocarbon-based products ranging from petrochemicals to plastics...
  
  
• Butylated hydroxytoluene
  Butylated hydroxytoluene
  Butylated hydroxytoluene , also known as butylhydroxytoluene, is a lipophilic organic compound that is primarily used as an antioxidant food additive as well as an antioxidant additive in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, jet fuels, rubber, petroleum products, electrical transformer oil, and embalming...